Actor-Musician BA (Hons) – 2019 entry

Why choose this course

The University of Surrey is one of the UK's leading universities for drama and dance, with our programmes ranked 2nd in the Guardian University Guide 2018.

Our BA Actor-Musician course is run by the Guildford School of Acting (GSA), one of the most highly regarded theatre schools in the UK. You’ll be taught by industry-leading professionals, and join a vibrant community of talented individuals.

Develop your skills as an actor musician and you’ll be able to take advantage of the ever-growing demand for versatile professional performers who can combine superb acting ability with a high standard of musicianship.

At Surrey, we develop your combined talents as an actor and a musician with a course that sits alongside our internationally recognised performance programmes in acting and musical theatre.

For many years these courses have been at the forefront of delivering top-quality actors and performers to the industry. As with all GSA degrees, we focus on developing the versatility to work professionally, in this case as an actor or actor musician, in a wide range of theatrical contexts.

Our course will help you become a highly disciplined individual and versatile performer, and introduce you to musicianship in performance, acting technique, voice, ballet, tap, jazz and singing.

On graduation, you’ll be equipped to work both as an actor and an actor musician across a range of performance contexts, taking advantage of the growing demand for versatile performers across the industry.

What you will study

On our BA Actor-Musician course, you’ll develop a range of performance skills in acting, musicianship, dance and singing, alongside essential critical and evaluative skills. You’ll develop your ability to work as an actor musician in different theatrical contexts, and become a highly disciplined and versatile performer.

In your first year, you’ll strengthen your core skills in acting, dance, singing and music. In your second year, you’ll work on texts as diverse as Shakespeare, Lloyd Webber, Sondheim, Chekhov and Ibsen, with musicianship skills integrated within your studies. In your third year, you’ll work on three core projects: a play, a musical and a devised piece, alongside a showcase for industry performed in London.

Careers and graduate prospects

Our graduates have an unrivalled employment record in West End shows and national tours. Our very distinguished alumni include performers such as:

Brenda Blethyn OBE

Oliver James

Bill Nighy

Owen Teale

Celia Imrie

Jonjo O’Neill

Kobner Holbrook-­Smith

Billy Carter

Ian Kelsey

Rob Kazinsky

Chris Geere

Claire Cooper

Justin Fletcher MBE.

Our alumni have appeared in the following productions:

West End productions

Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre

American in Paris, Dominion Theatre

The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre

The Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales

Aladdin, Prince Edward Theatre

Les Miserables, Queens Theatre

Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre

Wicked, Apollo Theatre

Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre

Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre

School of Rock, New London Theatre

Motown the Musical, Shaftesbury Theatre

The Play That Goes Wrong, The Duchess Theatre

Annie, Piccadilly Theatre

Nativity the Musical, Eventim Apollo

Dreamgirls, The Savoy Theatre

Evita, Phoenix Theatre

Matilda the Musical, Cambridge Theatre

Tina Turner the Musical, Aldwych Theatre.

UK tours and regional theatres

Shrek

Legally Blonde

Happy Days the Musical

Dreamboats and Petticoats

The Buddy Holly Story

West Side Story

Avenue Q

Cats

9 to 5

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Singin’ in the Rain

The Lion King

Oliver!

Betty Blue Eyes

Evita

Crazy For You

Titanic.

Auditions

Auditions are held between November and May each year, and we recommend applying early application to guarantee audition availability. You can find out more information about our auditions on the GSA website.

Academic year structure

The academic year is divided into two semesters of 15 weeks each. Each semester consists of a period of teaching, revision/directed learning and assessment.

The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff. All taught modules are 15 credits. Project modules and dissertation modules can be either 15, 30, 45 or 60 credits.

The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes.

Modules

Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that modules may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.

Timetables

Timetables are normally available one month before the start of the semester. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday–Friday). Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities. Part-time classes are normally scheduled on one or two days per week, details of which can be obtained from the course administrators.

Teaching

There may be occasions when the delivery of your teaching is supported by postgraduate research students. The University has a set of procedures that govern the use of postgraduate research students in this way.

Staff

Programme leader

Personal tutor

All taught students are assigned a personal tutor before beginning a programme of study. Personal tutors offer support and advice to students in the areas of:

Academic progress

Pastoral/welfare issues

Personal/professional development and employability.

Assessment

Modules are assessed individually and credits are awarded for the successful completion of each one. Assessment takes place through a combination of examination and/or coursework, practical examinations and reports. Check individual module information to see full details at a module level.

Contact hours

Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.

Policies and regulations

Learning and disability support

We have two services, the Student Personal Learning and Study Hub (SPLASH) and Additional Learning Support (ALS) which can help develop your learning.

Student Personal Learning and Study Hub

SPLASH is a learning space in the Library where our learning development team is based. It comprises dedicated Student Learning Advisers and Information Skills Librarians who can help you develop your academic and research skills, including writing, presenting, revision and critical thinking.

Additional Learning Support

ALS is the University’s disability and neurodiversity service which supports students with disabilities, long-term health conditions, specific learning differences (for example: dyslexia and dyspraxia) and other neurodiverse conditions (for example: autism spectrum and attention deficit disorder).

If you have a disability, we encourage you to disclose your condition and register with the service so you can be appropriately supported during your studies.

The ALS team can arrange exam and learning support adjustments, give advice on applications for the Disabled Students' Allowance and screen students for dyslexia and dyspraxia. Regular study skills and mentoring support is also available.

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English language requirements

If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here. The University of Surrey is also an IELTS test centre.

Selection process

Offers are made in terms of grades after a successful audition (which will include acting, movement and singing/instrument workshops).

Applicants who can demonstrate exceptional talent, and can satisfy the panel of their ability to successfully complete the programme, may also be considered.

A non-refundable audition fee is usually charged. Further information can be found on the GSA website.

Recognition of prior learning

The University of Surrey recognises that many students enter their higher education course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of professional, vocational and community contexts. If this applies to you, a process called recognition of prior learning (RPL) may allow you to enter your course at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience, or to join the start of a course without the formal entry requirements. This means that you may be exempt from certain elements of study in the course for which you have applied and be awarded credit based on your previous qualifications/experience. There are restrictions on RPL for some courses and fees may be payable for certain claims.

Additional costs

UK-based activity: £150 - Theatre trips (students should aim to see some live theatre throughout the course of their programme)

Grand total: £565-740 approx.

Optional expenses

In final year, students may wish to apply for Spotlight (including graduates casting list) and Equity membership - £350 approx. During the course of their programme, they may also wish to join the GSA Students' Union Society - £5 per annum.

These additional costs are accurate as of September 2017 and apply to the 2018 year of entry. Costs for 2019 entry will be published in September 2018.

How to apply

Learn how to apply for an undergraduate course, see details about the UCAS application process and determine the steps you need to take if you receive an offer to study.

Admissions information

Our undergraduate admissions policyprovides the basis for admissions practice across the University and gives a framework for how we encourage, consider applications and admit students.

Scholarships and bursaries

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